Prezzo, Richoux and The Restaurant Group increase shopping centre footprint
A total of fourteen food and beverage outlets are set to be unveiled within the £84m Whiteley Shopping Centre development, which sits on the site of the original Whiteley Village outlet centre, between Portsmouth and Southampton.
Italian restaurant chain Prezzo has spent £500,000 developing a 114-cover unit spread over both floors of the shopping centre.
"The restaurant will serve the highest quality food in comfortable and stylish surrounding,” said Prezzo’s chief executive Jonathan Kaye. “I am confident that Prezzo will prove popular with people of all ages.”
Prezzo’s Mexican concept Chimichanga - which Kaye says will take an increasing prominence for the group – has taken similarly sized neighbouring unit, offering 70 covers on the ground floor and 40 on the mezzanine level.
“Mexican food is more popular than ever and I am confident that people of all ages will enjoy the food and drink on offer,” added Kaye. “The restaurant will serve a superb selection of Mexican food in stylish and comfortable surroundings.”
Dean's Diner
Meanwhile, Richoux Group – which owns and operates 14 venues under the Richoux, Zippers, Dean’s Diner and Villagio brands – is opening a second branch of its American restaurant concept Dean’s Diner at the new Whiteley Shopping Centre.
The new Dean’s Diner cost more than £450,000 to develop and will have seating for 80 diners, of which ten will be seated at the counter, along with a further 40 covers available on an outside terrace.
Restaurant manager Hannah Williams said: “I’m confident that Dean’s Diner will prove popular with people of all ages. The restaurant will bring the spirit of the American diner experience to Fareham.”
Must-have locations
The new Whiteley Shopping Centre development, which has created around 100 jobs for the local area, will have over 50 stores open as of tomorrow.
Other F&B brands at the centre include The Restaurant Group-owned Frankie & Bennys, Montagu’s Café Bar & Bistro, Harvester, Costa, Café Nero and Starbucks. Tesco and M&S will also house cafés within their retail units.
Last year BigHospitality reported that the intense competition for prime city-centre restaurant sites is spreading rapidly into shopping centres across the UK, as landlords, established food concepts and emerging brands are increasingly recognising the potential of such high-footfall locations.
